Motor-driven centrifugal extractor.



F. BALZER. v MOTOR DRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL EXTRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. I912.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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F. BALZER. MOTOR DRIVEN CENTRIFUGAL EXTRAC TOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, I912.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rnrrz Barznn, or c'nrcneo,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, LTD.',' OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' no'ron-nnivnn CENTRIFUGAL nx'rnac'ron.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnrrz BALZER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Driven Centrifugal Extractors, ofv which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates in general to centrifugal machines, and more particularly to motor driven centrifugal extractors.

In centrifugal machines, such as extractors, comprising a rotary receptacle or basket supported upon a vertical driven sp1n-' dle, it is desirable'toso support the recepta- V cle and spindle that they may have a slight lateral play during the rotation of'the receptacle. The lateral play of the spindle renders it impractical to rotate the basket by an electric motor having its armature fixed to the spindle and its field rigidly secured to the stationary support of the machine.v It is, therefore, necessary, in order that such a machine may be directly driven by an electric motor, for the armature and motions of the spindle so as to be at all times concentric with respect to the'spindle, and thereby concentric with relation to each other.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an electrically driven centrifugal machine, in which the field andarmature of the motor and the spindle of the machine will at all times be maintained relatively concentric, and which will readily permit of the degree of lateralplay of the spindle necessary to the practical operation of the machine. 1

A further object of my invention is to provide a centrifugal machine comprising a rotatable receptacle secured to i of a vertical driven spindle, in which the lateral yielding of .the spindle will be'secured by supporting the lower end of the spindle for a limited lateral movement in a direction opposite to the direction of lateral movement of the basket, thereby minimizing the extent of the lateral movement of the basket during its rotation: g A still further object of my invention is 1 to provide an electrically'driven centrifugal machine, which will be simple in constructtlion, durable in use, and eficient in operaon.

field of the motor to partake of the lateral I the upper end 7 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented M 14, 1916, Application filed April 29, 1912. Serial No. 693,988. I

My invention will be more fully disclosed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical central section. Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a central sectional view of a modified form of my invention.

Similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Reference letter casing mounted upon a suitable support, such, for instance, as legs B, which rests upon a floor.

G designates a vertical spindle upon the upper end of which is secured a perforated basket D in which are placed the articles to be treated by centrifugal action. The bottom wall .D of. the basket D is provided with Y a concentric depending collar (1 in which is received the tapered upper end 0 of the ssindle C.

c esignates a disk secured to the upper end of the spindle for securely connecting the same to the basket.

E designates a motor casing which concentrically surrounds the spindle G and within which the spindle rotates. per end of the motor casing E is provided with a flange F concentrically surrounding the spindle and between which and a sleeve G fixed to the spindle are located ball bearings 9 so as to retain the spindle concentrically within the flange F during its rotation. F designates a disk which surrounds the spindle and closes the chamber within the flange F. V

f designates screws for securing the disk F to the flange F. V f i H designates a plurality of substantially horizontal springs which surround the col lar F and are interposed between the same and the surrounding portion of the support of the curb A. Each of the springs H surrounds at its inner end a stud f projecting from the collar F and at its outer end a stud k, the latter being adjustable radially with respect to the spindle by means of an adjustable screw H. It will be evident from Fig.

The up- 2 that the springs H normally retain the motor casing and spindle concentric with respect to the curb A.

The lower end of the spindle C extends within a cylindrical portion I of the motor casing E.

i designate ball bearings interposed between the spindle and the cylindrical portion'I of the motor casing in order to maintain the spindle concentric with respect to the motor casing at its lower end.

7' indicates thrust bearings for vertically supporting the lower end of the spindle. The outer surface of the lower end of the motor casing E is semi-spherical, as indicated at J, and fits within a correspondingly concave socket in a bearing K. The lower surface of the bearing K is curved to conform with the curved upper surface of a stationary support L which may be conveniently formed as a part of, or as secured to, the legs B upon which the curb A is mounted. The radius of the engaging curved surfaces on the bearing K and stationary support L is preferably from the center of gravity of the basket in order to secure the most practical results.

M designates the field of the motor, which is secured to the inner surface of the casing A, while N designates the armature of the motor, which surrounds and is rigidly secured to the spindle O concentrically within the field M. When a direct current motor is employed the commutator O is provided in the motor circuit.

P designates a wheel C with which a brake ed to cooperate.

The operation of my invention is as fol\- lows: The, articles to be treated are placed within the basket D and the motor circuit closed. The spindle is rotated and with it the basket, by reason of the field being fixed to the casing A and the armature to the spindle. The lateral motion of the spindle incident to therotation of the basket is permitted by reason of the centering springs H and the bearing K interposed between the lower end of the motor casing and the un derlying stationary support. H act as a fulcrum intermediate of the basket and the lower end of the spindle so that a motion of the basket to the left would swing the lower end of the spindle and with it the lower portion of the motor casing toward the right, this movement being perfixed to the spindle (not shown) is adaptmitted by the ball and socket engagement between the lower end of the motor casing and the bearing K and between the bearing K and stationary support Consequently the spindle C is exceedingly flexible in its vertical support and reduces to a minimum the necessary lateral motion of the basket during its rotation. The motor casing is at all times retained concentrically' with respect to the spindle through the interposed ball bearings and consequently partakes of all of the lateral movements of the spindle. As the motor The springs casing and spindle are consequently maintained in concentric relation, it is obvious that the field and armature will also be maintained concentric at all times.

In Fig. 3 I have 'shown a modification of my invention in which the curb A is directly supported upon beams B, B in lieu of being supported upon legs B. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower end of the motor casing E engages a laterally movable hearing K through the medium of a ball and socket joint, the bearing having a movement upon-the curved upper surface of a support L. The support L depends through any suitable medium, such as a cylinder Z, from, the curb A. In operation, the modification of my invention shown in Fig. 3 is in all respects similar to that above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

It will, of course, be understood that any desired form of motor may be employed,

either direct or alternating, and that the terms field and armature f, as used in this specification and in the claims, are intended to include the stator and rotor of an alternating currentmotor. V

. From the foregoing description, it will be observed that I have invented improvements in centrifugal machines, and more particularly in extractors, by which the spindle may be directly driven by a motor and the field and armature of the motor at all times maintained in concentric relation through the medium of a motor casing which partakes of all of the lateral movements of the spindle incident to the rotation of the basket mount- 7 ed thereon. So far as any lateral movement is concerned, the motor casing, field, armature, spindle, and basket act as a unit. It" will be observed that by my improvements the lower end of the spindle is so mounted as to yield in a direction opposite to the lateral play of the basket, thereby flexibly supporting the spindle and basket with a minimum lateral displacement of the basket relatively to the curb.

ile I have described more or less in detail the specific form in which I have illustrated my invention as embodied, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form, proportion of parts and substitution of equivalents, as circumstances may require, or as may be deemed expedient.

I claim: 1. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with areceptacle, of a. driven spindle upon which said receptacle is supported, a casing closed at its lower end and open at 1ts upper end concentrically surrounding said ing supported gaging said flange for yieldingly retainthe upper end of said casing for normally maintaining the same in a vertical position, a lateral movable bearing upon which the lower'end of said casing is pivotally supported, and an electric motor inclosed by said casing and having its field fixed thereto and its armature concentrically fixed around said spindle.

2. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a rotary receptacle, of a driven spindle upon the upper end of which said receptacle is supported, a casing closed at its lower end and open at its upper end concentrically surrounding said spindle, means for rotatably supporting the lower end of said spindle within the bottom of said casing, a bearing at the upper end of said casing through which said spindle projects, a flange extending around said spindle and projecting upwardly from said casing, springs engaging said flange for yieldingly retaining the casing in a vertical position, said casing having a convex surface at its lower end, a bearing having a concaved seat in upper surface within which is sup ported the convex lower end of said casing, a stationary support upon which said hearing is laterally movably supported, and an electric motor inclosed by said casing and having its field fixed thereto and its armature concentrically fixed around said spindle.

3. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a rotary receptacle, of a driven spindle upon the upper end of which said receptacle is supported, a casing closed at its lower end and having a concentric openat its upper end within which said spindle is supported, means for journaling the lower end of said spindle within the lower integral bottom of said casing, an integral flange on ing concentrically surrounding said spindle, an antifriction bearing for said spindle within said flange, springs enthe upper end of said casing the casing in a vertical position, a movable bearing beneath the lower integral end of said casing for supporting the same, and an electric motor inclosed in said casing and having its field fixed thereto and its armature concentrically fixed around said spindle.

4'. In a centrifugal machine, the combination with a receptacle, of a driven spindle upon which said receptacle is supported, a casing concentrically surrounding said spindle, means for supporting the lower end of said spindle within the lower end of said casing, a circular flange on said casing concentrically surrounding said spindle, an antifriction bearing interposed between said flange and said spindle, means engaging said flange for yieldingly supporting said casing in a vertical position, an electric motor inclosed by said casing and having its field fixed thereto and its armature concentrically fixed around said spindle, and

means for pivotally supporting the lower end of said casing.

5. In a centrifugal machine, the combi nation with a rotary receptacle, of a driven spindle upon the upper end of which said receptacle is supported, a chamber inclosing said receptacle, a base. upon which said chamber is rigidly supported, an integral casing surrounding said spindle, an electric motor inclosed by said casing and having its field fixed thereto and its armature concentrically fixed around said spindle, means for pivotally supporting the lower end of said casing upon the base of said chamber, and springs interposed between the upper end of said casing and surrounding portion of said base for yieldingly supporting said casing in a vertical position.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

- FRITZ BALZEB.

Witnesses: GEO. L. WILKINSON, HENRY A. PARKS. 

